Tag Archives: review

It is easy to say that all you need to make miniature cupcakes is a mini muffin pan. But this isn’t strictly true, because you also need a well equipped kitchen, baking ingredients, paper liners and frosting to really produce a good miniature cupcake. To most of us, these are things that we already have in our kitchens. But for those who are less well ... Read More »

A good cake carrier is something that every home baker should have. The name suggests that they’re just for transporting cakes from point A to point B – and they are – but they’re also great airtight containers for storing everything from layer cakes to cookies even when keeping the goodies just around your house. A cake carrier should have plenty of room for even ... Read More »

I drink a lot of coffee and I also bake with it on a regular basis. I have more than one coffee maker and this is for good reason: each of them has its own purpose, even though they all make coffee. Traditional pots brew enough for a crowd, or multiple cups when you know that you’re going to need that extra caffeine. Espresso machines ... Read More »

I always like seeing a bag of limited edition chocolate chips pop up on grocer store shelves around the holidays, and seeing Nestle’s seasonal Tollhouse Dark Chocolate & Mint Morsels was no exception. Flavored chips promise a little departure from standard chocolate chips in a form that is just as easy to incorporate into a cake or cookie dough. The problem is that not all ... Read More »

Any baker will tell you that vanilla is one of the most essential ingredients that you can have in your pantry. Although only a small amount goes into most recipes, vanilla can improve the flavor of just about everything it touches. I try to keep a good supply of vanilla on hand, both extracts and vanilla beans, and even make vanilla sugar with previously used ... Read More »

It is easy to whip up a simple buttercream to top off a cake or some cupcakes, but I was curious to try Trader Joe’s Chocolate Frosting Mix when I saw it on my last visit to Trader Joe’s. Frosting mixes used to be a very popular item on the baking aisle of many grocery stores, but were largely phased out as canned frosting became ... Read More »

Towards the holidays, Trader Joe’s puts out all kinds of seasonal offerings. Their Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels are always at the top of my list. Dark chocolate is a great combination with caramel most of the time, but with these candies I’m just in it for the silky smooth caramel and the crunch of coarse salt sprinkled on top of the candies. It is ... Read More »

Fans of Starbucks’ ultra-convenient instant coffee, Starbucks Via, are definitely going to take note of the brand new flavored versions of Via that Starbucks has just released. These instant coffees are flavored with natural flavorings and sweetened with a little bit of sugar. This makes them more of an all-in-one product that regular Via, which comes plain and unsweetened, although it is available in different ... Read More »